nach Hause or zu Hause?
a1Two fixed phrases, one letter apart: nach Hause is the direction (where to?), zu Hause the place (where?). Both take no article and never change form.
nach Hause
The direction homewards. Used with verbs of movement: gehen, fahren, kommen, wollen.
Ich gehe jetzt nach Hause.I am going home now.
zu Hause
The place you are at. Used with sein, bleiben, arbeiten and anything that happens without moving.
Am Wochenende bin ich zu Hause.At the weekend I am at home.
The mistake
Ich fahre zu Hause.
Ich fahre nach Hause.
Fahren is movement and therefore needs the direction. The wrong sentence says someone is driving around while being at home.
Rule of thumb
Nach points an arrow, zu marks a point. The same logic runs through the whole group: wohin versus wo.
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